Boiler feeder



March'v 26, 1929 F. M. WEBSTER BOILER FEEDER Filed July 29, 3.926

"ll/l Patented Mar. 26, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK M. WEBSTER, oEWELLEsLEY FARMS, MASSACHUSETTS, AssIGNoE To W. n.CASHIN co., or EosToN, MASSACHUSETTS, A coEroEATIoN or MASSACHUSETTS.

BOILER FEEDER.

Application filed July 29,

This invention relates to boiler feeders of the general typeused tocontrol the feeding 0f Water to a boiler from a city main or from anyother source under pressure. While de vices of this kind ordinarily arereferred to as boiler feeders, they are equally adapted for use infeeding water to tanks or any other apparatus Where it is `desired tomaintain a Substantially constant level.

It is the chief object of the presentinvention to devise a boiler feederwhich will automatically maintain the water in the boiler at aneliieient operating level notwithstanding conditions, such as surging,which introduce difficulties in the operation of such a mechanism. TheinventionA also aims to devise a boiler feeder which will be unusuallyreliable inoperation, will be Simple in construction, and can bemanufactured economically.

The nature of the invention will be readily understood from thefollowing description when read in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, and the novel features will be `particularly pointed `out inthe appended claims. i

In the drawings,

v Figure l is a central, vertical, cross-sectional view of a boilerfeeder embodying this invention; and

l Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view on the line y The apparatus showncomprises a float chamber casing 2 which is adapted to be con# nected bypipes Bland 4: with the steam and water spaces, respectively, in aboiler, the casing being located at approximately the water level whichis to be maintained. This casing is provided with openings at oppositesides thereof, one of these openings normally being closed by a cover 5,while the other is closed by the plate-like member 6 of a valve casing7. Water from the city main or from any other suitable source of supplyis, conducted to the valve easing 7 by a pipe 8, and additional pipeconnections, including the pipe 9, conduct the water from this valvecasing to the boiler. Slidably mounted in the valve casing 7 is a mainvalve 10 which controlsthe flow ofwater from the inlet port 11 `to theoutlet port 12. This valve fits rat-her loosely in the casing so thatWater under pressure can find its way up 192e. Serial No. 125,147.

behind the valve 10 into the valve chamber 14, and this pressure isrelied upon chieiiy to seat the valve. A coiled spring` 15 which 1sinterposed between the valve and a cap 16 threaded into the upper partof the valve chamber also tends to seat the valve.

`This general type of valve is Well known and 1s arranged to be openedor closed by the pressure of the water in the supply thereto.

For this purpose the valve chamber 14-is connected with the floatchamber 17 in the casing 2-by means of a port or passage 18. Normally,however, this passage is closed by a v`alve comprisinga plunger 19 and avalve disk or plug 2O carried thereby, this plunger being Supported `ina `tubular housing 21 which projects into the "float chamber from thevalve casing and preferably is integral with said easing. A spring 22tends to hold this valve in its closed position, and an adjustable cap23 backs up the spring and is threaded into the housing 21, this capbeing secured in its adjusted position by `a loeli nut 24.

Mounted in the casing 2 is a float 25 preferably threaded on the end ofa short pipe or tube 26 which, in turn, is threaded into the end of ayoke or lever 27. This yolre terminates in a T-shaped head which isfulcrum'ed on a shaft or pin 28 thatis supported by two lugs projectinginwardly from the valve casing plate 6, one of these lugs being shown at80. A pin or projeetionl extends laterally from the `valve plunger-19and is arranged to be engaged at .certain times by theupper arm oftheT-sliaped lever 27.

`Normally the level of the Water `is such that itholds the float 25 in aposition approximately as shown in Fig. 1the upright arm of the lever 27being out of engagement with the p in 3l.` llVhen` the level of thewater in the` boiler, and consequently, the

level in the iioat chamber 17, drops below a allowing thewater in thevalve chamber 1li to escape through the duct`18 into the float chamber17. It will be observed that a plurality of holes are drilled laterallythrough the Wall of the housing 21 where it `joins the plate 6, so thata very slight unseating movement of the valve 19 (usually referred to asthe pilot 'valve) affords relatively freeescape for the water which hasbeen confined in the valve chamber 14.

. vThe pressure of the water in the inlet port 11 immediately lifts thevalve l() oil' its seat,`

. contact withv the pin or projection 31, the

s )rinor 22 seats the oilot valve 19 thus closing 1 b l. C

the duct 18 again.V Water from the supply quickly builds up a pressurein the chamber 14 behind the valve 10', which pressure, combined withthat ofthe spring 15, is sufficient to v close or seat the valve,thusinterrupting the flow of water to the boiler. These operations 1continue uninterruptedly according to the re'- quirements of the boiler.v c

Itsometirnes happens that water is carried lout ofthe boiler inVconsiderable quantities yinto the heating system, and later returns tothe boileragain, theboiler feeder in the meantime' havingoperated tomaintain substantially a predetermined level in the boiler. Thisreturning waterraises the level in the rboiler excessively, and it isdesirable for efficient operation to drain olf some of this water.

lFor this purpose an yoverflow valve 33 has been provided, this valvenormally closing an overflow port or outlet 34 which communicates withan overflow pipe 35, Fig. 2. The

' valve 33y is constructed substantially like the pilot valve'19 and isslidably mounted in a tubular housing 36 integral with the valve casing7. VVA cap 37 is screwed lintol the end'of this housing and backs'up aspring 38 which normally holds the-valve 33 seated; Apin 39projectslaterally from the valve 33 through a slot in the housing 36 andis arrangedto be engaged by an arm '40` projecting downwardly from thelever 27.- Such engagement, however, takes yplace only when the level ofthe water inthe float chamber 17 is abnormally high, but when thisengagement occurs it unseats the valve 33, thusV allowing water toescape through holes in the housinf 36 and through the outlet34 into theoverflow pipe 35 which leads to y'a drain, sump, or the like. It will beobserved that the pins or projections 31 and 39 are so' located thatthefloat 25 can have considerable freedom of ymovement `7 withoutoperating' either the pilot valve 19 or the overflow valve 33. `In otherwords. there is considerable lost motion between these valves andthelever 27 which operates them. Conseq'uently,the surging that frequentlyoccurs in a boiler will notj result in flooding the boiler. which is anobjectionable vfeature of many boiler feeders. Neither will such surgingoperate the overow valve under conditions which might result in drainingthe boiler to an undesirable degree.

Due to the fact that both the pilot and overflow valves are carried bythecasing 7 and main valve 10, the manufacture and assembly of the valvemechanism is greatly facilitated, such assembly being completed beforethe valve casing is bolted to the float chamber-casing 2. The inventionthus pro vides a very simple and compact construction which can bemanufactured economically and in which repairs can be made very easilyin ease they become necessary.

' While I have herein shown and described the best embodiment of myinvention that I 'i closed by the pressure of the water supply,

a pilot valve operable to relieve said pressure on one side of said mainvalve, and overflow valve, and a single float controlling the operationof'both said overflow valve and said pilot valve.

2. In a boiler feeder, the combination of a main valve controlling theflow of water to the boi-ler and arranged to be opened or closed by thepressure of the water supply, a pilot valve operable to relieve saidpressure on one side of said main valve, an overflow valve. alloat, andconnections whereby said float is operable to open either said overflowvalve or Said pilotA valve upon predetermined changes in the elevationof the float.

3. In a boiler feeder, the combination of a main valve'controlling theflow of water to the boiler and arranged to be opened or closed by thepressure of the water supply, a pilot valve operable to relieve saidpressure on one side of said main valve, an overflow valve, a float, andlost motion connections between said float and said pilot and overflowvalves whereby said float is operable to open either' said pilot oroverflow valve but is permitted to have considerable freedom of mov(-`-ment without operating either of them.

4. In a boiler feeder, the combination of a main valve controlling thellow of water to the boiler and arranged to be opened or closed by thepressure of the water supply, a pilot valve operable to relieve saidpressure on oneside of said main valve, an overflow valve. springstending to hold said overflow and pilot valves closed, a float, andconnections for causing said float to open either of the latter valvesdepending upon 'its )'iosition', saidl connections being arranged toallow' the float to have a limited freedom of motion without openingeither said overflow or pilot valves.

5. In a boiler feeder, the combination of a easing having a floatChamber therein, a float in said Chamber, a valve Casing having waterinlet and outlet ports therein, a main valve controlling the flow ofwater through said outlet port and norn'ially held in its closedposition through the aid of fluid pre sure in said valve easing behindsaid valve, a pilot valve for relieving said pressure, a spring tendingto hold said pilot valve closed, a projection extending laterally fromsaid pilot valve, and a lever connected with said float and arranged toengage said projection to open said pilot valve.

(i. In a boiler feeder', the combination of a easing havin e a floatchamber therein, a float in said chamber, said easing having an openingin one side thereof, a valve easing secured to said float chamber easingand Closing said opening therein, said valve easing having water inletand outlet ports, a main valve controlling the flow of Water throughsaid outlet port and normally held in its closed position through theaid of fluid pressureinthevalveeasing behind said valve, said valvecasing having a port therein leading from behind said valve to said ioatchainber and also having an outlet leading from said float chamber, apilot valve for closing said port, an overflow valve for closing saidoutlet, and connections whereby said ioat is operable to open said pilotvalve when the water in said chamber is abnormally low and to open saidoverfiow valve whenthe water in said chamber is abnormally high.

7. In a boiler feeder, the combination of a easing having a floatchamber therein, a fioat in said chamber, said casing having an openingin one side thereof, a valve easing secured to said oat Chamber easingand closing said opening therein, said valve casing having water inletand outlet ports, a main valve oon trolling the flow of water throughsaid outlet port and normally held in its closed position through theaid of fluid pressure in the valve casing behind said valve, said valveeasing having a port therein leading from behind said valve to saidfioat chamber and also having an outlet leading from said float Chambera pilot valve for closing said port, an over ow valve for closing saidoutlet, and a lever fulorumed between said pilot and overflow valves andhaving two arms for operating said valves respectively, said float beingconnected to said lever and arranged to operate the lever.

FRANK M. WEBSTER.

